PREVIEW

The U.S. women’s ice hockey team has medaled at every Olympic Winter Games since the sport was introduced at the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, winning one gold (1998), two silvers (2002, 2010) and one bronze (2006). As announced in June 2012, Team USA will be led by Head Coach Katey Stone, who will be the first female head coach to lead the U.S. women’s ice hockey team at an Olympic Winter Games.

Stone, who is currently in her 19th season behind the Harvard University bench, arrived at the helm of the U.S. women’s hockey program in 2010. She has since guided teams to three top-two finishes in the Four Nations Cup, including back-to-back titles in 2011-12. She most recently led the U.S. to its second and third straight world championship medals (gold, 2011; silver, 2012). She will direct the national team at the 2013 World Championship in April and 2013 Four Nations Cup in November, among other key events leading up to the Sochi Games.

In Olympic competition, the U.S. has posted an 18-0-1-2-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) overall record. Against opponents already qualified for the Sochi Games (Canada, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Russia), the U.S. is 11-0-1-2-0 in past Olympic contests. Team USA is the only other squad aside from Canada to have won an Olympic gold medal. The U.S. holds a 32-10-11-52-1 all-time record vs. Canada in IIHF competition. Against all other teams qualified for the Sochi Games in IIHF competition, the U.S. has only lost two games and tied another two in 80 games played.

The U.S. will field another strong roster, featuring a mix of veterans and collegiate players, as it has done for its past four international competitions over the last two seasons. The squad’s average age was 23 years old over the last three international competitions. Additionally, several of the post-collegiate veterans play for the Boston Blades in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, which allows them to consistently play and train together to enhance the core of the team.

QUALIFICATION

Automatic qualification for the women's tournament at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games was determined by the IIHF world ranking following the 2012 IIHF Women's World Championships. The top-five teams in the world ranking received automatic berths into the Olympic Games, including the U.S., which ranked second. As host, Russia earns a direct berth, while all other teams will have an opportunity to qualify for the remaining two spots in the Sochi Games.

SELECTION

Players will be continually evaluated leading up to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in various camps and tournaments. The preliminary Olympic roster will be named in June 2013 at the conclusion of the summer training camp. The final Olympic roster will be named in late December.